Purpose

To consolidate, disseminate, and gather information concerning the 710 expansion into our San Rafael neighborhood and into our surrounding neighborhoods. If you have an item that you would like posted on this blog, please e-mail the item to Peggy Drouet at pdrouet@earthlink.net

Caltrans and Metro Add Two More Public Hearings for Community Feedback to Draft Environmental Document on SR-710

(April 2, 2015) The California Department of
Transportation (Caltrans) and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan
Transportation Authority (Metro) today announced the addition of two
more public hearings to offer community feedback on the Draft
Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS) for
SR-710.

Additional public hearings have been scheduled for
Wednesday, May 6, 2015, at the La Cañada High School auditorium, 4463
Oak Grove Drive, La Cañada-Flintridge, Calif. 91011 with map viewing 5
p.m. to 6 p.m. and public hearing from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Thursday,
May 7, 2015, at the Los Angeles Christian Presbyterian Church, 2241 N.
Eastern Avenue, Los Angeles, Calif. 90032 with map viewing 5 p.m. to 6
p.m. and public hearing from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The added meetings provide four opportunities to comment
on the draft environmental document. The first two meetings are
scheduled on Saturday, April 11, 2015 at the Rosco C. Ingalls Auditorium
at East Los Angeles College with map viewing 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and
public hearing 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Tuesday, April 14, 2015, at the
Pasadena Convention Center with map viewing 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., and public
hearing 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. A 120-day public comment period began March 6
and ends July 6, 2015.

Caltrans and Metro are under a mandate from two million
Los Angeles County voters that passed Measure R in 2008 to study a 100
square mile region affected by congestion and pollution caused by
incomplete transportation infrastructure between the end of the I-710
freeway in El Sereno and the I-210 Freeway in Pasadena.

•A traffic management system to upgrade and synchronize
signals and improvements to local street intersections to more quickly
move traffic that exits the dead end freeway

•A rapid bus line featuring high frequency service with minimal stops and potentially a dedicated bus lane

•Light rail to carry passengers between East Los Angeles and Pasadena

•A freeway tunnel that would extend the SR-710

No decisions have been made on any proposed alternative in the Draft EIR/EIS.

Members of the public are encouraged to attend the public hearings and read the document athttp://goo.gl/84KSgFPublic comment can be made on the link provided.

The full document can be viewed by appointment at the
Caltrans District Office at 100 South Main Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
and at the Metro library, 1 Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles, Calif. 90012.
Copies are also available at public libraries listed here: http://www.metro.net/projects/sr-710-conversations/

An EIR is required to comply with the California
Environmental Quality Act and an EIS fulfills requirements of the
National Environmental Policy Act. The laws require government agencies
to identify the significant environmental impacts of their actions and
to avoid, minimize or mitigate any adverse effects. Information from
public comments will be weighed before preparing the final environmental
document.

Altogether, approximately 26 detailed technical studies are included in the Draft EIR/EIS.

Through the process of compiling the Draft EIR/EIS, Metro
and Caltrans conducted 92 community meetings, participated in six
city-sponsored community forums and held over 200 briefings with
community stakeholders.